The World

The Vatican said it has stemmed a spiraling budget deficit, thanks to increased contributions and strict controls on spending. But it reported that contributions are still far from sufficient and that Roman Catholics are being asked to step up their financial support. A Vatican statement put this year's projected budget deficit at $59.3 million, down from the $63 million forecast in March. The Vatican has been in the red every year since 1979, when it first made financial details of its operation public.